LAWRENCE — At one point during a final, padless practice at Notre Dame High School Monday night, West coach Todd Smith summed up the gameplan in one sentence: “Let them make plays ... it’s an all-star game.”

In Tuesday night’s 17th annual Sunshine Classic at The College of New Jersey (7 p.m. kickoff), Smith will get the ball into the hands of his playmakers and try to get them in space. Smith’s counter trey, isolation, power game will attempt to take advantage of the overaggressiveness of defenders, which then should set up play action and potentially open up the aerial lanes.

“We’re going to take our shots,” Smith told his team. “The more effectively we run, the more effectively we will pass.”

Look for the West to stick the ball in the bellies of patient and pounding tailbacks Brian Schoenauer of West Windsor-Plainsboro South and Mark McKenzie of Hamilton early. Then, when down and distance are in their favor, try and get the ball down the field to Notre Dame’s blazing fast Devin Griffiths, Lawrence’s Devon Hewitt or Hopewell Valley’s Alec Hasse.

“I think we have big-play potential,” said Schoenauer, the leading rusher in Mercer County history. “If we can establish the run, it should open up the passing game. I think our quarterbacks (Hamilton’s Mark Acquaviva and Princeton’s Zack DiGregorio) will be able to make a big play if a window opens up downfield.”

Acquaviva and DiGregorio, who will alternate each series, will present an interesting dilemma for the East defense. Acquaviva is a lefty and DiGregorio a righty, meaning the West can run play-action passes to either side of the field. Acquaviva also will bring an option element to the game.

“We’re playing two teams — the East defense and ourselves,” Smith said. “I’m hoping we can defeat both of them.

“We have to manage our mistakes. But that’s what make all-star games so exciting ... you never know what is going to happen.”

Smith said he was pleased with the execution of the offensive line and the quarterbacks after only six practices.

“We haven’t played football in a long time,” said Notre Dame cornerback Prince Patterson. “Yet we have to expect to be able to go out and play hard and play well.”

Hamilton High's Javed James will start at defensive end.Martin Griff/The Times of Trenton

“We had fun this week,” Smith told his team in the post-practice huddle. “But when the game starts, the person across from you wants to play and it’s for real. If you aren’t ready, you will know it quickly. You are going to have to adjust to the speed of the game quickly.”

That is why turnovers and penalties are always critical in an all-star game. While both teams have talent, discipline is always a wildcard.

“The name of the game is turnovers,” said West defensive coordinator Nick Steffner, a former assistant coach at West Windsor-Plainsboro South. “The team that wins the turnover battle will win the game.”

The West defense has prepared all week for the East team — led by rifle-armed quarterbacks Luke Westerberg of Nottingham and Nick Palladino of Allentown — to come out throwing.

“We expect them to come out and stretch the field,” Steffner said. “They have excellent quarterbacks and dynamic receivers. “If they’re able to run the ball out of the spread, that will certainly make things more difficult.”

While game rules limit what defenses can do, the West is hoping Hamilton defensive end Javed James can generate a pass rush and that nose tackle Antwan Ellerbe of Lawrence can clog the middle, allowing active and hard-hitting linebackers to make plays. With safeties Chris Cardinali of Hun and Phil Simpson of Hamilton needed in run support, the West corners will be called on to play both aggressively and intelligently against a dangerous crop of East receivers.

“In this game, a five-yard pass can go 70 yards,” said Patterson, who will play collegiately at Ursinus. “There are athletes all over the field.

“Like any other game, you can’t give up the big play. Everyone out here wants to do something special, but you can’t do that to your teammates. If it’s a close game, you don’t play that way. If you’re up a couple of scores then, maybe, you try and get one for yourself.”

West Windsor-Plainsboro South High's Brian Schoenauer will start at tailback.Martin Griff/The Times

Smith noted he would like to score quickly, and Schoenauer expected the game to be hard-fought.

“I think it’s going to be real competitive,” Schoenauer said.

NOTES: Game director Jack Dunn said there is no rain date, so game officials will wait out any weather delays ... The West team will be the visitors. Players will board buses from Notre Dame at approximately 3 p.m. and will dine together on the TCNJ campus before dressing for the game.